Jacob Alon, who was the only Scot nominated for a Mercury Prize this year, follows in the footsteps of artists like Olivia Dean, Declan McKenna and Myles Smith with their win.
It marks the first time a Scottish artist has won the award since its inception.
Surprised with a trophy by BBC Radio Scotland hosts, Alon simply said: “You’re joking.
“Oh my goodness guys, what the heck? Thank you so much.”
We are DELIGHTED to share that the 2025 BBC Introducing Artist of the Year is the incredible Jacob Alon💙
Supported by Introducing in Scotland – Jacob’s had an inspiring few years – and we are so honoured to award them the title and this trophy for how much they’ve smashed it. pic.twitter.com/w3W0OkJpkK
— BBC Music Introducing (@bbcintroducing) November 11, 2025
Born and raised in Dunfermline, Alon began playing piano at just nine-years-old before picking up a guitar aged 15 and going on to start releasing music in 2023.
They had originally enrolled to study medicine and theoretical physics at Edinburgh University, though later dropped out to pursue music full time.
Their debut album, In Limerence, was released in May, garnering a Mercury Prize nomination and a shortlisting for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
Alon was first played on BBC Introducing in Scotland early in 2023 before taking to Glasgow’s famed Barrowland Ballroom as part of the Tenement Trail festival.
Later, they performed at BBC Introducing’s national showcase in London before being invited to a recording session in the broadcaster’s Scotland offices.
Last November, Alon also performed their track Fairy in A Bottle on Later with Jools Holland.
Alon was featured on Glastonbury’s Introducing Stage in 2025 and performed at the Mercury Music Awards, hosted in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 16.